You shall not multiply

Chris Korda makes dance music and wants to evangelize humanity

BY HARALD PETERS

Seven years ago, jazz guitarist Chris Korda had a vision during meditation that combined his strong sense of universality and his discontent with the way the world is going into a catchy slogan: "Save The Planet, Kill Yourself!" He took the vision to heart and founded the Church Of Euthanasia (COE) in his hometown of Boston in order to spread the good news of saving the earth by decimating humanity. Two years ago, the EP "Save The Planet, Kill Yourself" was released in Germany as part of his mission, and now the first album "Six Billion Humans Can't Be Wrong" has been released on the Munich label International Deejay Gigolos.

On the basis of techno and electro, Chris Korda mixes his own unique version of dance music. He uses the sounds of the early 80s, a clear art rock influence can be heard over the four-four beat, then typical disco elements dominate again, when Chris Korda strums his keyboard thoughtfully, he can hardly deny his jazz-rock past. In between there are vocoder voices that preach the central messages of the COE in a slogan-like manner.

The COE is a modern, professionally run church. It is registered and recognized as a non-profit organization in the sense of adult education, and followers can deduct their donations from their taxes. The COE works with stickers and parades, its chapel is the Internet, and the sermons are available on a homepage (churchofeuthanasia.org). Its leader, Reverend Chris Korda, is a person with a sense of mission and a declared anti-humanist. Whereas traditional churches try to put their followers on the right path with all kinds of rules, the COE knows only one commandment: "Thou Shalt Not Procreate" -- Old English for "You shall not reproduce!" The goal is the widespread abolition of the human species through effective non-reproduction. According to the COE, humanity is threatening biodiversity. The sole concern is therefore the restoration of the ecological balance on earth.

Now, Chris Korda's church should not be imagined as a catchment area for civilization-weary, misanthropic conservationists; rather, their daily life in the church looks like the work of over-the-top performance artists. Chris Korda is neither a transvestite nor transsexual, but he always wears cocktail dresses and ear clips and looks a bit like Demi Moore. The COE's god, called "The Being", is an inflatable figure in the shape of the abortion pill RU 486. "The Being" is carried around reverently in every procession. The main targets are sperm banks and meetings of anti-abortion activists, which are subversively infiltrated with giant foam penises. During the last presidential election campaign, the COE launched the "Unabomber for President" campaign; Korda signs his letters with a friendly "Thank you for not breeding!" in reference to the anti-smoking slogan. Although Korda is vegan, cannibalism is one of the four pillars of the church, along with sodomy, suicide and abortion.

It is difficult to decide whether the COE is serious, artistic or simply nonsense. On the one hand, Korda seems to genuinely care about environmental and animal protection, but on the other hand, the bizarre appearance of the COE is a reaction to radical Christians, fanatical pro-lifers and bigoted politicians. From a European perspective, this is surprising. The COE seems like a humorous joke. But their album is too good to be a joke.

The preceding is a translation. The original language is here.